FOXBORO -- Given the current wide receivers depth chart for the Patriots, the team needs a good season out of rookie N'Keal Harry.
The No. 32 overall pick in April's draft has made a solid first impression, including being invited to Tom Brady's house with Julian Edelman to work out even before mandatory minicamp.
"He's a big kid, and he works hard," Edelman said after Wednesday's practice. "We're going to need him to play well. We're going to need everyone to play well. He's just a young guy that comes in, works hard. It's tough to play receiver here, and he's doing a good job at that by not making the same mistakes. I'm not a coach — you've got to ask Coach Joe [Judge] on that one — but I like his attitude. I like his body. He's got a big body, and he's got some nice abs, too. So hopefully he comes in and helps us right away."
In the few times the media has seen him, he's showcased his ability to go up and make contested catches. While he's made a few rookie mistakes, it's clear he has a bright future and he's getting the coaching he needs, including 1-on-1 time with Troy Brown.
When speaking a few weeks back, Harry noted Edelman has been helping him with route running and the veteran noted it's part of the job as he had it done with him, too.
"Especially in the National Football League for a rookie, there's going to be bad days," he said. "There's going to be good days. There's going to be days where you don't do anything. A guy by the name of Fred Taylor would tell me my rookie year, when I would get a ride from him at the Residence Inn in his Range Rover, he would say, 'Hey, rook. It's a roller coaster. You've got to just ride that ride and hopefully keep it level-minded.' And that's what I would try to say to [Harry].
"Our [wide receivers] room's got a lot of other guys who are in there competing. It's exciting. … You've got a lot of guys in there working hard, and we're going to need that, because it's only going to make us better."
Harry and Edelman likely will lead the group with Phillip Dorsett, Maurice Harris, Braxton Berrios and Demaryius Thomas battling for playing time behind them.
